Erin Weir

[Canada Labour Code, February 16th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member for Humber River—Black Creek made an excellent point when she said that some of the anti-worker legislation passed by the former Conservative government interfered with provincial jurisdiction over labour relations.

I wonder, though, whether the member could explain if the Liberal Party's new-found respect for the provinces and for working people extends to the field of pensions. During the election campaign, the Liberal Party talked about improving the Canada pension plan. When the Minister of Finance met with the provinces, he found that almost all of them were in favour of doing so. Only the right-wing governments of Brad Wall and Christy Clark objected, and yet the hon. finance minister seems to have let the Canada pension plan fall by the wayside.

I wonder if the member for Humber River—Black Creek could recommit to improving Canada pension plan benefits for working people in our great country.

[Canada Labour Code, February 5th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, the member for York Centre spoke very eloquently about the balance between labour and employers. A cornerstone of that balance is that in the rare instances where the collective bargaining process breaks down, there is economic pressure on both sides. In a strike or lockout, the employees do not receive their salaries and the employer has to do without their labour. That balance is disrupted if the employer can just bring in replacement workers. Therefore, anti-scab legislation is a very important component of preserving that important balance between labour and management.

I wonder if the member for York Centre could clearly commit to saying that the new Liberal government will introduce and pass anti-scab legislation.

[Canada Labour Code, February 5th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa suggests that the tax deductibility of union dues is some sort of special privilege. However, we afford exactly the same tax treatment to all employment expenses.

Let us imagine that the deduction of dues had something to do with Bill C-377. I wonder if the hon. member could explain to us why this legislation was only imposed on trade unions and not applied to medical associations, bar associations, and other professional associations whose dues are also tax deductible.

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Don Valley East suggested that, despite a weak job market, the Minister of Finance may well decide to continue withdrawing money from the employment insurance fund by keeping EI benefits well below EI premium revenues.

I wonder if the member for Winnipeg North could confirm that the Liberal government is planning to continue the fine Paul Martin tradition he alluded to, of draining money from the employment insurance program, or whether the sense of Prairie solidarity that he invoked earlier in his speech would extend to providing a helping hand to laid-off resource workers who are really in need of improved EI benefits.

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, previously in this debate, I have pointed out that the Conservatives managed to create a small surplus for at least part of the year by withdrawing money from the EI fund. Could the member for Don Valley East commit that the new Liberal government will not resume the practice of withdrawing money from the employment insurance fund? Also could she provide a bit of a timeline as to when the new government will make concrete improvements to employment insurance and improve the accessibility level and duration of benefits?

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot has expressed full confidence in the “Fiscal Monitor”. I wonder if he would acknowledge that very same document shows, in table 2, between April and November 2015, that employment insurance premiums were $14 billion, while table 3 shows that employment insurance benefits were only $12 billion. That difference of $2 billion more than explains the razor-thin surplus of $1 billion for which the Conservatives are trying to congratulate themselves.

The member for Battle River—Crowfoot also mentioned layoffs in the resource sector in his home province of Alberta. We have the same challenge in Saskatchewan. I wonder if the hon. member would join with the NDP in calling for an improvement to employment insurance benefits to help workers in the energy sector who have been laid off.

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as a former economist with the Department of Finance, I am happy to discuss a motion recognizing the good work of civil servants in that department.

I would like to ask the hon. member, however, if he acknowledges that the “Fiscal Monitor”, to which the Conservatives are referring, also shows that between April and November of 2015, employment insurance premiums were $14 billion, whereas employment insurance benefits were only $12 billion. That difference of $2 billion is more than twice the $1-billion surplus that is being claimed.

Would the hon. member acknowledge that the only reason for this surplus is, in fact, because the former Conservative government took money out of the EI fund?

[Canada Labour Code, February 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it was great to hear the member from Sackville speak about the collective bargaining process.

A very important part of collective bargaining is the ability for employees to withdraw their labour. That right really only has effect if the employer cannot just bring in replacement workers.

Several times in previous Parliaments, anti-scab legislation has come forward. Often the Liberals have spoken very positively about it, but when it came down to actually voting for it on final reading, they would sort of fall away, would not show up, or vote against it, that sort of thing.

Now that the Liberals have the majority and could pass anti-scab legislation, I am wondering if the member from Sackville could commit to do so.

[Canada Labour Code, February 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Red Deer—Lacombe cited the Christian Labour Association of Canada, which is probably one of the more pro-employer labour organizations in the country. Would he acknowledge that even the Christian Labour Association of Canada said that Bill C-377 is too flawed to become law?

[Canada Labour Code, February 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would mention that another way of improving wages and living conditions is through a strong minimum-wage policy. Unfortunately, a previous Liberal government removed the federal minimum wage in 1996. When this issue came up in the last Parliament, the Liberals voted in favour of reinstating the federal minimum wage. During the election, they cast some doubt on that idea.

I am wondering if the member for Davenport could clarify whether her government will do the right thing and reinstate a federal minimum wage.